The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-17
us the wisdom and almightiness of

OOu.
The nights on the ocean differ from
those on the land, because the heavens
bend closer to it; and as the fields of
ether are set all aglow with twinkling
orbs, we look upon the water and, 10!
countless worlds are apparently below,
as well as above us. This is new ex-
perience to quicken us in our inquiries
as to the infinitude of worlds. AS the
steamer speeds on in the calm, it is
strangely still as you stand on the deck.
There is no dash of the wave, nor roar
of the waters. 1t is sublime solitude.
AS you look at star and planet, you can
but ask yourself, are they not all peo-
pied with sentient beings? Who knows
but their jewellers are so constituted as
to look upon our planet and behold what
is transpiring? Possibly some of them
are so far off that the inhabitants have
not seen the earth, because it has not
existed long enough for its reflected
light to reach them; or perhaps, some
with senses sufficiently acute, are look
| ing upon it, as it was expressing the
| first life in the form of ferns and NOV
ing mites; or possibly they saw it when
producing the immense rhododendrons
and gigantic mastodons; or, peradven-
ture, they are viewing Adam and Eve
in the garden Of Eden; or Moses deliver
ing the Law to the Israelites at the foot
of Sinai; or Homer going from village to
village singing of the Trojan war, or
Jesus delivering his Sermon on the
Mount; or Fulton driving the first
steamboat up the Hudson; or Morse
telegraphing his first message; or Dol
bear talking with friends far away over
strands Of wire, or Edison experiment
ing with his phonograph. Indeed, ''the
heavens declare the glory of God" on
sea and landl
Though some five or six days have
been stormy and the sea rough, yet no
accident has occurred. In spite Of
head winds this voyage of the "City of
Sydney" will be the quickest run made
across the Pacific ocean, being accom-
plished in seventeen days.
No striking incidents have occurred
on the passage. For the most part it
has been quiet. The sailors are all
Cinnamon, and have done their duty
without any unnecessary commotion.
On the Sabbaths there has been re-
ligious services in the morning. But
this has been done at the request of
some of the passengers and carried on
entirely by them. Now this is the first
American line of steamers crossing the
ocean, and this is the only steamer that
we have ever been on which did not re-
| quire, when the weather would permit,
at least one religious service on Sun
day, to be held in the saloon of the
cabin passengers. Now does this speak
we'll for America and a Republican
form Of government? Is it likely to
prove beneficial and lend an influence
to perpetuate good principles? 1t
seems far otherwise. Our country
can least afford JlAany to adopt suck
loose course. Lay aside moral and re-
| ligious culture and the fate of our Re
public would soon be sealed. Mission
aries are on board for foreign lands, but
are we not forced to feel that there is
call for missionary work nearer home?
Another want of the ship is library.
1t is not necessary that an elaborate
and expensive one should be furnished.
But some good reading matter should
be on hand so that those who have
come on board without books could Sc
cure some by asking for them. How
ever, as it is, some of the passengers
have been able to do quite an amount
| of reading, having supplied themselves.
They have become more familiar with
David and Paul. Whittier, Wordsworth,
Emerson, Carlyle, Scott and other au-
thors. Ali books are the mirrors that
reflect the images of souls that have
passed on into the beautiful light.
How could we live without them?
Faust and Guttenburg did inestimable
service to mankind through their dis
covery of printing. Now those who
long since bade adieu to the mortal come
back to us in thought and sentiment.
What companions they become and
how they lead US on into more light
and wisdom! As the soldier clings to
his arms, so does the scholar to his
books. They can feed his mind with
the best thoughts of the past and the
brightest hopes for the future. So
none should start on journey upon the
land or the sea without taking one
good book or more with them that
when the spare moments come or when
in solitude they may hold converse
with those who have felt and thought
and so wrought as to gain a mental
and moral victory over this world.
We are entering the port of Yoko-
hama, and shall soon step upon the
terra ttrna of Japan. Henceforth we
shall be ready to admit that the Pacific
ocean is vast body of water; that far
out from shore il is a tremendous soli-